Saturday, November 5, 2011CNA

TAIPEI--A China Airlines (CAL) flight from Beijing to Taipei was delayed by nearly two hours yesterday after a passenger claimed during boarding that he had a bomb in his luggage.

CAL flight CI512, originally scheduled to depart Beijing at 12:25 p.m., took off from Beijing Capital International Airport around 2:20 p.m. after further security checks were conducted and the aircraft's safety was completely secured, CAL authorities in Taipei said.

According to the carrier's office in Beijing, a Chinese man, aged 70, who is a U.S. passport holder, was disgruntled about the fact that the flight to Taipei was delayed due to heavy traffic volume at the Beijing airport.

The man, surnamed Chang, said while taking his first-class seat that he had a bomb in his luggage.

Chang and his wife were ordered to disembark from the aircraft, and were detained for questioning. The CAL flight then departed for Taipei.

Sean Lien, a son of former Vice President Lien Chan, and his wife were among the passengers. Lien survived after being shot in the face during an election rally in Taipei last November.